Panasonic has announced the 14 megapixel DMC-FX70 (known as FX75 elsewhere), a touch-screen, pocket-sized compact camera with a speedy 5x zoom lens.
The Leica-branded zoom lens covers a usefully wide range from 24-120mm, backed by onboard image stabilisation, offering a speedy f2.2 aperture at the wide-angle end (but only closing down to f5.9 at the telephoto end).
At the back of the DMC-FX70 is a large, 3.0 inch 230,000-dot high-resolution LCD with full touch-screen operation, for finger friendly navigation.
Auto-everything
For most users, Panasonic’s well regarded iA mode should be all they’ll need to knock out winning shots, serving up a heady mix of AF tracking, Face Detection with Face Recognition, POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabiliser), Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, and Intelligent Exposure.
Video
There’s video support with Panasonic’s New Generation AVCHD Lite and iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode, with the camera able to record Motion JPEG images and high-definition motion picture in AVCHD Lite.
Dolby Digital Creator promises high quality audio recording and movies can be edited in-camera.
The FX70 will be available from August 2010, but there’s no news on pricing yet.
PRESS RELEASE: Panasonic DMC-FX70 – Ultimate Hybrid Slim and Stylish Digital Camera
Featuring F2.2 Super Bright 24mm Ultra Wide Angle LEICA* DC VARIO-SUMMICRON Lens and Recording HD movie in AVCHD Lite
Panasonic is pleased to introduce the new Lumix 14.1-megapixel DMC-FX70 with F2.2 super bright 24mm ultra wide angle LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens and powerful 5x optical zoom (equivalent to 24mm to 120 mm on a 35mm camera), which captures almost double the viewing space at the same shooting distance compared to ordinary 35mm cameras, resulting in remarkable images with unprecedented width and depth. Adding to Lumix’s popular slim and stylish FX series, the FX70 is truly a hybrid camera that records high quality HD movie in AVCHD Lite
Newly developed F2.2 LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON Lens – the brightest in class
The DMC-FX70 packages a LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON high quality lens that boasts an astonishing brightness of F2.2, like no other stylish compact digital cameras. Comprising 7 elements in 6 groups, including 3 aspherical lenses with 5 aspherical surfaces, this advanced lens unit passes Leica’s stringent standards and delivers an exceptional optical performance. Also, the 24mm ultra-wide-angle lens, rare on a compact camera, gives photographers a wider range of composition possibilities with approx. 213% larger viewing space compared to that of a 35mm camera.The F2.2 lens is approximately 1.6x brighter than the F2.8 lens, itself generally considered a bright lens, and allows the FX70 to shoot at higher shutter speed and capture stunningly clear, sharp, blur-free images in lower lighting situations. Together with the anti-blurring function in the iA mode, FX70 never allows any subject to be blurred making it easy to produce beautiful photos with pleasing soft background focusing thanks to the shallow depth of field provided by the extra light.
Thanks to the newly incorporated Intelligent Resolution technology, Intelligent Zoom is available with the FX70 extending the zoom ratio by approx. 1.3x, and maintaining the picture quality even when using a digital zoom. This means the 5x optical can virtually extend to 6.5x equivalent. Further, in 3-megapixel resolution mode, the Extra Optical Zoom function provides additional magnification, extending the zoom power to 10.5x by using the centre part of the CCD.
Take motion picture recording to the Next-Level with New Generation AVCHD Lite and iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode
In addition to Motion JPEG images, the DMC-FX70 can record high-definition motion picture in AVCHD Lite. The camera can record up to double the recording time in HD quality compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format and the picture quality is greatly enhanced thanks to the Intelligent Resolution technology. The FX70 also features Dolby Digital Creator to record high quality audio.
The popular iA is also available in motion image recording. The POWER O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer), Face Detection, and Intelligent Scene Selector support shooting beautiful movie with ease and the Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Macro, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the situation to optimize visual quality. Auto Focus tracking function is also available in movie recording, locking onto the subject to keep it in focus even if it moves.
Furthermore, the 5x optical zoom can be used in movie recording too, with the newly added Video Divide function, users can divide the video into two sections to shorten or delete the unwanted part on the spot in the camera. You can cut out a clear still image from a movie in the camera thanks to the Intelligent Resolution technology. A Wind Cut function is also available to block out most of the noise from background wind.
Evolving iA Mode Makes Every Photo Blur-less
Panasonic incorporated Intelligent Auto mode in pursuit of the ultimate ease of operation and the reduction of mis-shots. Building on the success of past FX models, the FX70 enjoys further improvement with the inclusion of a new Motion Deblur mode**. Combined with the outstanding brightness of the lens and the POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), the DMC-FX70 thoroughly prevents any kind of blur – whether from the user’s handshake or the subject’s motion.New Motion Deblur mode is a comprehensive integration of the Intelligent ISO Control, which automatically adjusts the ISO setting and shutter speed according to the subject’s movement., The advanced contrast control system of Intelligent Exposure, that also optimises the exposure to prevent over/under exposure part in a picture. The camera judges the appropriate shutter speed to suppress the motion blur according to the movement of the subject and the shutter speed rises as high as possible activating the high sensitivity recording by pixel mixed readout method.
In iA mode the camera does all the work, activating AF tracking, Face Detection with Face Recognition, POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, and Intelligent Exposure. This leaves the user free to simply compose the shot and press the shutter button, with the assurance that the image will be clear, beautiful and properly exposed.
Intelligent Resolution Technology Compiled in the New Venus Engine HD II
The high-speed, high-performance Venus Engine HD II is incorporated in the FX70 to enable the recording of beautiful photos and high-definition movies, with higher quality signal processing including the Intelligent Resolution technology.With the Intelligent Resolution technology outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation areas are automatically detected. The outline parts are enhanced effectively to give edges more clearness while giving a moderate accentuation to the texture areas to look more finely detailed. To the soft gradation part, superior noise reduction process of the Venus Engine HD II is applied to make it smoother. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the innovative technology, Intelligent Resolution, precisely performs signal processing pixel by pixel in the most effective way for it. As a result, images are naturally clear and crisp in both photo and movie recording.
The multi-task image-processing engine Venus Engine HD II supports a super-fast response time. The shutter release time lag is as short as approx. 0.005 second and the camera’s quick response makes it easier to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities together with the Sonic Speed AF (Auto Focus). In addition to outstanding performance, the high performance Venus Engine HD II is also more energy efficient compared with the conventional Venus Engine HD, extending the battery life up to 360 shots (CIPA) per a single charge.
The Intuitive Touch-control shooting on the Large, Easy-to-see LCD
The DMC-FX70 adopts an easy to use, large, 3.0 inch 230,000-dot high-resolution LCD with full touch-screen operation. Menus now look clearer and easier to navigate, thanks to the new Display Size option.Once you lock on the subject by a touch, the camera tracks the possible object or person with the Auto Focus tracking function, even if it moves. With the Intelligent Scene Selector in the iA mode, the camera automatically switches to the appropriate mode according to the subject touched. For example, a touch on a human face switches to the portrait mode and a touch on the background or scenery to the scenery mode. All menu settings are available with touch control and in the shooting screen you can directly touch the icon to change its setting quickly.
The touch-screen operation excels not only for shooting but also for playing back images with outstanding visibility. You can play back the image you want out of hundreds of stocks by touching in the thumbnails. To play back images one by one in order, you can drag the image over the screen with a finger to browse the collection of photos as you flip over the pages of the book. Max. 16x of enlargement is also operated easily with touches.
The screen brightness automatically adjusts in 11 steps as the surrounding brightness level changes, ensuring easy visibility at all times. The 3.0-inch large screen reflects fine details, making it easy to check the focus before shooting. It also serves as a small photo and video viewer, allowing the user and friends to enjoy viewing the still and motion images together.
Included software
The latest version of exciting software PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.0 HD Edition comes bundled with DMC-FX70. With quick start-up and fast read-in of images, the PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.0 HD Edition makes it possible to sort and organise photos not only of those newly taken but also of those stored in your PC. The Face Recognition function recognises the faces in each of the pictures and automatically sorts the photos by the registered faces. You can also enjoy slideshows with a variety of effects and use your iTunes music library as background music. Motion pictures can be uploaded directly to YouTube using the built-in YouTube uploader even in HD (High Definition) quality. It also lets you create a 360-degree rotation panorama file in MOV, which is especially easy if Panorama Assist mode in the camera is used. Experience and feel the outstanding benefit of the PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.0 HD Edition. It will surely allow you to view, edit and archive your captured photos and motion pictures with greater ease and fun.The sleek and slim DMC-FX70 combines an elegant combination of both technical specification and style, making it the perfect camera for any occasion. The FX70 will be available from August 2010.
